It depends on the day...sometimes my neck and shoulders, sometimes my lower back, sometimes my middle back, I went through a period of 6-8 months with really bad knee pain, I get headaches and TMJ pain, sore throat, some days it's stomach pains and then there are those wonderful days where it feels like I died in my sleep and rigor mortis has set in but someone forgot to tell me.I do find that I can deal with the pain alot better now knowing what it is and accepting itMy family doctor diagnosed me first after running all the tests for arthritis and they came back negative then I went to a rheumatologist who filled out a huge questionaire and did the tender point test(which I had all 18)My problems started after an injury at work and got even worse after surgery last year but the more I learn about it the more everything falls into place. I used to worry I had this and I had that and which problem do I get checked out first and my is doctor going to think I'm a hypochondriac? Now I am trying to educate myself and manage my symptoms the best I can. I'm having pretty good success with supplements, exercise and acupuncture and I'm feeling better now then I have in a long time. Probably some of it is due to the fact I'm not working at the moment and I'm following some advice I read in a book on fibro to rest several times a day and never push myself. I figure it took years to get to this point that it will take years to heal my body back to some semblance of normal though I know I will probably never be 100%Shannahsmom

I really have no idea when my fibro started. I am 51 now and can trace some symptoms back to childhood and early adulthood. For me it has had a very gradual onset. I was only diagnosed a few months ago, after having suspected for several years that I had it.

Since 1997, my family had been going to a Family Practice physician who had initially seemed very knowledgeable in many areas. However, when I approached him several years ago about the posibility of my having fibro, I began getting the run-around. He seems to be a non-believer. He told me that it was a process of "ruling things out." Each time I would go to see him when the pain was unbearable, he would send me through another test, but he never seemed to be willing to follow-up with relevant treatment. He referred me for two sleep tests two years apart, and both indicated that I had RLS and sleep apnea. He did not want to do anything, he would look at the results, and say that they weren't that bad. If I would complain of exhaustion, he would tell me to sleep more (even though I explained that all that I could do was sleep), or that I needed to exercise. At times, he would test for anemia, and I always seemed to be iron deficient. I have a long history of UTI's, GERD, TMJ, and sinus problems, which are all problems related to fibro. I have been through numerous tests for digestive problems. He was aware of all of my problems, but could not seem to put the puzzle together. Finally, last fall, I had my worst flare ever. I am not sure what started it. I had been moving wood chips for a landscaping project that we were doing. However, my daughter and I had both had viral infections that may have been H1N1 in early October which may have contributed. My back, which has always bothered me, started hurting, and did not get better. This was very intense pain.

It took both my husband and I putting pressure on the doctor to get him to refer me to the pain clinic at the hospital. Before he did this, he ran some more extensive testing, which revealed that I was not only anemic, again, but was very low in vitamin D. He also did a Tenderpoint test (this is the first time that he had done this), and I had a number of positives. The neurologist at the Pain Clinic also ordered some x-rays, I think he was ruling out arthritis. The Neurologist diagnosed me based on the results of past tests, in addition to the fact that I had improved after being prescribed trazodone for sleep difficulties.

For me, most of my pain centers in my back. It is mainly in the lower part, but sometimes radiates into the upper part. I do have some pain in the neck and shoulders, and it is difficult for me to reach overhead. Recently, I have pain in the insides of my elbows, my wrists, and thumbs. I seem to have lost some manual dexterity. My pain does seem to move around at times. As far as the cause of my fibro, I think that it was probably stress related, or at least stress was a major factor. I seem to do much better if I can keep my life on an even-keel

My symptoms are mostly pain in all my joints and muscles. Fatigue. Some memory loss. Right now intense pain in my chest. I am sure it is not my heart cause of all the tests I have done.

I went to my reheum. and was diagnosed. It seemed like every place she pressesd hurt.I struggle with FM,Raynauds Syndrome,gastroparesis, IBS and depression. I trust in God with all things. Been a tough journey and it's not getting any easier but thanks to God and my family I am not alone.